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Edited by Deborah Burns and Ann Larkin Hansen Art direction, book design, and infographics by Alethea Morrison Text production by Liseann Karandisecky Cover and interior illustrations by Carolyn Guske Back cover photograph by Caro/Alamy Interior photography by Jeannette Beranger/ The Livestock Conservancy, except for Alex Bramwell/Alamy, 17; Beth Hall/Alamy, 13 top; Bob Langrish, 137; Caro/Alamy, 8; Food and Drink Photos/Alamy, 89; courtesy of the Irish Draft Horse Society of North America, 181; courtesy of Jeannette Beranger through the MacLaughlin Family, 45; courtesy of Jess Brown, 43; Lynn Stone, 23 bottom; Dr. Phillip Sponenberg/ The Livestock Conservancy, 27 top; Tanya Charter and Greg Shore/McKenzie Creek Ranch, 39; Tim Hill/Alamy, 13 bottom Indexed by Samantha Miller 2014 by The Livestock Conservancy All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages or reproduce illustrations in a review with appropriate credits; nor may any part of this book be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other without written permission from the publisher.
C O N t E N ts
I N t RODUCtiON
CH a P T E R E IGH T
Sheep, 215 Pigs, 220 Cattle, 222 Horses, 226 Donkeys (Asses), 231
I N tr O d U cti O N
What Is a Breed?
A breed is a group of animals that share a common link of history, original ancestors ( foundation), and overall body type, all of which work together to result in a reasonable degree of genetic uniformity.
Highland cattle
Livestock breeds work best when they fit their environment and match well with production goals.
Purebred animals predictably reproduce their breed type, both in appearance and performance, when mated with one another. This predictability of appearance, ability, and function through generations is the essential key to the importance of breeds, because predictability is what allows successive farmers and ranchers to consistently achieve their specific goal in a selected setting. That setting is the other key principle. A Jersey dairy cow is a good choice for producing rich milk on a dairy farm in a temperate climate, while a Texas Longhorn is a good choice for meat production in a drier region. Your farming goals will be met best when the breed matches the setting.
isolation
human culture
Breeds are influenced by several cultural factors.
BREED SNAPsHOT
Navajo-Churro Sheep
Specially adapted to survive and produce in the arid Southwest, the NavajoChurro sheep is famous for its unique wool and the delicate flavor of its meat.
Homeland: Arid New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah Traditional uses: Fleeces for traditional weaving, meat, Native ceremonies Colors: Fleeces come in a warm palette of
white, black, grays, browns, and combinations of these. Some colors, such as the beautiful Navajo Sheep Project blue, are unique to the breed.
11
number of breeds
Breed numbers have changed drastically over the past 100 years.
8,000 BCE
1900
today
BREED SNAPSHOT
Dominique Chicken
This historic American chicken has many useful features, most of all its ability to free-range in the typical barnyard or backyard.
Homeland: Eastern United States in 1700s Traditional uses: Eggs (brown), meat Size: Roosters, 7 pounds; hens, 5 pounds Colors: Barred cuckoo color for good
camouage
18
19
bLOODLINE
CLOsE- UP
Size: Cows, 700 pounds; bulls, 1,200 pounds Special adaptations: Rugged, selfsufficient foragers that excel in scrounging food out of the Pineywoods
Traditional uses: Draft oxen, beef Size: Cows, 800 pounds; bulls, 1,400 pounds Special adaptations: A long history of use as oxen in the logging industry of the Gulf Coast. Teams of up to 5 yokes were used to drag old-growth timber out of the woods Colors and other traits: Dark red and
white in various spotting and roaning patterns;
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Colors and other traits: Red, brindle, brown, or dun; with or without white spotting. Horns are moderately long Population: Fewer than 30
Population: 20
Colors and other traits: Red, brindle, dun, many with a white lineback pattern
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Med.
Growth
Fertility (likelihood
of producing viable offspring)
low HIGH low HIGH
high
high
high
Med.
low Med.
Med.
low
Environmental Adaptation
Temperament
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Desert environments can also be challenging, usually in the amount of forage available. The forage present is usually nutritious, just in short supply. Parasites, in contrast, may not be a factor at all. Texas Longhorn cattle, Spanish goats, and Navajo-Churro sheep are all examples of breeds that have met this challenge. These are all thrifty, easy keepers that have good feet and legs to help them navigate the landscape. Cold places with short growing seasons also impose challenges on both animals and their keepers. Milking Devon cattle, Randall cattle, and Canadienne cattle have all managed to adapt to this situation. Temperate, lush environments are easier for animals to adjust to, but an adjustment is still necessary. Breeds such as the Dutch Belted and the native Milking Shorthorn have proven valuable for grass-based dairying. Their willingness to get out into the field and graze has been essential in transforming grass into milk without the farmer needing to bring it to them. In each of these cases, the environment, management, and breed all work together to result in a system that is productive in harmony with the prevailing conditions. By working with, rather than against, the local environment, you can maximize production and minimize the headaches that come from trying to manage the right breed in the wrong place.
American Cream Draft Horses still find a place for their traditional role in field work.
BREED SNAPSHOT
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Ducks
Ducks have many of the advantages of chickens: small size, docile character, prolificacy, and a short generation interval. These combine to make them a good choice for beginners learning the intricacies of animal management and selection. They are a useful, and often overlooked, species.
Average life span: 5 to 7 years Handling ease: Easy and docile Noise and odor level: The ducks (females) quack; the drakes (males) are nearly silent. Ducks are wet in their habits and can make a lot of mud and odor if not kept clean.
feeds are widely available at feed stores, although somewhat less so than chicken feeds. Water is essential, and water for swimming and bathing is appreciated.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE. Ducks form groups of multiple ducks and a few drakes. Drakes can serve up to 10 ducks. When too many drakes are in a group they tend to worry the ducks incessantly. REPRODUCTION. Specialized egg-producing breeds can lay an egg a day, which is more than most chickens! They mature at about 5 to 6 months old. Incubation is about 28 days. Larger breeds, such as the Rouen and Aylesbury, require a swimming area at least 6 inches deep so they can mate properly. PREDATOR CONTROL. Essential.
Tight housing can eliminate most predator threats, especially necessary at night. feathers, meat.
PRODUCTS. Eggs,
PROCESSING AND TRANSPORTATION. Small-scale slaughterhouses may be willing to process small numbers, but check your local facility for availability and pricing. Some states allow the sale of a set number of home-processed birds.
American Poultry Association and the American Bantam Association are two main resources
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for information. The Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities is geared for heritage breeds, as well.
OTHER. Ducks can be useful allies in slug, snail, and insect control. Some ducks are voracious consumers of flies.
DUCK FARMS
Ducks lay more eggs and are more vigorous than chickens, with fewer disease issues. Largely for these reasons, in the late 19th century and early 20th century, duck farms producing both meat and eggs were far more numerous than chicken farms in America, and massive ocks could be found throughout the country. But as American
Cayuga ducks
tastes shifted toward more rened and lighter fare, farmers shifted to more protable chicken production, and the duck ocks declined. Today, only a few massive ocks remain. Many duck breeds are now in desperate need of new stewards willing to rediscover the art and pleasure of keeping these remarkable birds.
BREED SNAPsHOT
Guinea Hog
Docile in temperament, good foragers, gentle, good mothers the Guinea Hog is a valuable and economical addition to a small-acreage farm.
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Conservation
High
Cultural Connection
va r i a b l e
hig h
high
Project:
Non-Breeding
Project:
Selection/ Improvement
hig h
Mode r
e at
Mod er
Mode r
gh hi
e at
e, at
to high
low
variable
va r i a b l e
high
va r i a b l e
Project:
Rescue
Project:
Project:
Production Only
Millie and Dave Holderread carefully steward many breeds of ducks and geese and, just as importantly, new generations of waterfowl breeders.
BREED SNAPsHOT
Spanish Goat
Southwestern strains of the Spanish goat are adapted to arid environments; in the Southeast they are adapted to humid places with high parasite loads.
Homeland: Texas; other strains from Southeast and California Traditional use: Meat production Size: 60175 pounds
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188
App E N di X
Breeds at a Glance
ach species has a wonderfully diverse array of breeds. The summaries below barely scratch the surface of all the details that make up each of them. Use these tables as a general guideline, and then go out and meet the animals and their breeders in person to discover which breed appeals to you most and fits best with your goals.
Rabbits
The ideal temperature for rabbits is about 50F (10C).
American
threatened
Origin: United States Purpose: Meat, fur Adult Weight M/F (lbs.): 911/1012 Color: Blue, white Litter Size: 810 Temperament: Docile
Mothering Ability: Good Owner Skill: Novice Notes & Tips: Select for good mandolin
body shape. The blue variety is the deepest blue color of all rabbits.
American Chinchilla
critical
Origin: United States Purpose: Meat, fur Adult Weight M/F (lbs.): 911/1012 Color: Chinchilla Litter Size: 810
Temperament: Docile Mothering Ability: Good Owner Skill: Novice Notes & Tips: Fast growth; good meatto-bone ratio
Rabbits
189
Belgian Hare
threatened
Origin: Belgium Purpose: Exhibition Adult Weight M/F (lbs.): 69.5/69.5 Color: Brown with black ticking Litter Size: 48 Temperament: Active, intelligent
Mothering Ability: Variable Owner Skill: Intermediate to advanced Notes & Tips: Created to resemble a
wild hare but is a true rabbit. Can be a challenge to breed.
Beveren
watch
Origin: Belgium Purpose: Meat, fur Adult Weight M/F (lbs.): 811/912 Color: Black, blue, white Litter Size: 812 Temperament: Docile
Mothering Ability: Good Owner Skill: Novice Notes & Tips: Select for mandolin
body shape. Good cold tolerance. Quick growth rate.
Blanc de Hotot
threatened
Origin: France Purpose: Meat, fur Adult Weight M/F (lbs.): 811/911 Color: Frosty white with thin black eye
bands
Temperament: Docile to active Mothering Ability: Good to Variable Owner Skill: Novice to intermediate Notes & Tips: Meat lighter in color than
other breeds
Litter Size: 68
Crme dArgent
recovering
Origin: France Purpose: Meat, fur Adult Weight M/F (lbs.): 810.5/8.511 Color: Creamy white with orange cast,
bright orange undercoat
Temperament: Docile Mothering Ability: Good Owner Skill: Novice Notes & Tips: Known to have relaxed
personality. Ears should be well rounded at end.
Litter Size: 58
Giant Chinchilla
watch
Origin: United States Purpose: Meat, fur Adult Weight M/F (lbs.): 1215/1316 Color: Chinchilla Litter Size: 78 Temperament: Docile
Mothering Ability: Good Owner Skill: Novice Notes & Tips: Requires platform in cage
to avoid sore hocks. Quick growth rate; large size requires bigger cages.
Oxen: A Teamsters Guide by Drew Conroy The definitive guide to selecting, training, and caring for the mighty ox. 304 pages. Paper. ISBN 978-1-58017-692-7. Reclaiming Our Food by Tanya Denckla Cobb
Stories of more than 50 groups across the United States that are finding innovative ways to provide local food to their communities. 320 pages. Paper. ISBN 978-1-60342-799-9.